Sir Temujin Butterbutts

Intake Date: 10-31-2020

16 years old/ Breed represented as Azteca - No proof, not sure

This is the sweet boy who changed my life. I had been volunteering at a local recue for two months. I saw him panicking, running back and forth as he watched the mare he had bonded with leave on a trailer. I asked questions about him and learned that he’d just been returned to the rescue after a failed adoption attempt. I would later learn that he had been adopted out and returned to the rescue six times. I was told reluctantly that he was rideable and that he would not like me. After a horribly eventful first ride where I found, surprisingly that I could read him reasonably well, I slept on the decision and signed the papers for him the next day. It was deep in the quarantine zone and I genuinely didn’t realize it was Halloween until I was signing his papers. The past two years with him has been an incredibly wild ride. Watching him go from a horse that everyone was terrified of to a horse that would ground tie placidly and come to me on sight was the most incredible change I’ve ever seen in my life.

He is a special case and because he lived such an uncertain life full of mistreatment, neglect, and abuse - he will never be a “normal” horse. He will always have past scars from his trauma, mentally and physically. I am still learning new things about him constantly. As I become a better horse person and as I learn everything I can, I find new ways to interact with him and to make him feel safe when he’s insecure and afraid. I still have a long way to go, and really…there’s never an end to learning. But he will always be the soul who changed me. The little red horse no one wanted who found it in his heartbreakingly damaged soul to trust me. He will never go anywhere else, he’s with me for the rest of his days, loved and so wanted.

Laila Tov Ington Spicypants

Intake Date: 01-07-2022

2 Years old / breed unknown

This sweet girl was adopted from All Seated in a Barn. In a lightning strike moment like the moment I first saw Muj, I saw her and felt this insane tug. She was at Lawson’s Ranch to be trained. I asked a couple of questions about her and went over to spend some time with her. She was timid, but not terrified. I made the decision that day to adopt her.

I’ve since learned that she was neglected when she was younger, and had been through at least two auctions at different times. She was healthy when I adopted her, but still had her pink auction numbers on her butt - number 147.

A year later, Tov has filled out beautifully and even become a little chunky! We’ve developed the kind of bond I used to dream about when I was a horsesick kid. She’s wonderfully sweet and affectionate. She calls out every time she sees my car down the road. She follows me around like a pup, plays with every item of clothing, jewelry, grooming tools…object (lol) that she can get. She steals hats like an absolute champ.

She’s incredibly sweet and friendly and I am so grateful for her when I’m bringing people in to meet them. Muj is not very trusting and not affectionate towards many people, so having her as a little ambassador is a dream. She makes falling in love with these creatures so easy.

I am in no rush to have her saddle trained, she won’t go in until she’s at least 3 or 4 so she has time to properly develop. The truth is, she doesn’t need to do anything to earn love but just -be-

Mojave of the Bows

The First of Her Name.

Breaker of Halters, Protector of Many Kisses, and The Mother of The Audacity

Intake Date: 12-13-2022

6 Months Old / Reservation Mustang

This precious little one is our first intake as a rescue. All Seated in a Barn was at the monthly auction in Bowie, Texas. Two massive groups of babies came in. I had already started the process of moving forward with the rescue and doing the little things I was able to do in the now. I had been thinking about fostering another horse or bringing a third horse in. When I saw those big groups of babies, I felt that tug again. I knew I couldn’t do much, but I knew I could save one. All seated was incredible and raised the funds for her bail and transport. She was bought on the 5th and delivered here to the desert on the 23rd.

She was feral and scared, but not terrified. I started working with her very slowly, just doing very light pressure release and moving gradually into her space, always giving her the time she needed and waiting for permission.

It took me two weeks for her to give me permission to touch her - so much quicker than I thought it would be! I can’t wait to take the halter off her face and get the auction stickers off her butt, but I’m moving at her pace and making sure she feels safe.

In the meantime, she’s gaining weight like a champ. She’s starting to be obsessed with her mare and foal feed. Her sweet little personality is coming out more and more each day. She’s becoming more and more playful and curious. She’s even starting to call out to me for her food and it’s the sweetest thing. This girl is going to have the best life and be so loved.